Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Podcaster Funds Security Guards to Combat Crime in Bedford

Peter McCormack, a prominent Bitcoin podcaster and owner of Real Bedford FC, has announced an ambitious plan to combat rising crime in Bedford, UK. McCormack is personally funding a pilot initiative that will deploy ten security guards to patrol the town center every Saturday. This move comes as a response to what he perceives as the police's failure to adequately protect the community, particularly in light of increasing incidents of aggressive begging, shoplifting, and harassment.

McCormack's concerns are rooted in the impact these crimes have had on local businesses and residents. He claims that the surge in crime has driven shoppers away, forced stores to close, and left families feeling unsafe. In a post on X, McCormack stated, “If the police won’t keep the town safe for our women and children, I will.” This bold statement underscores his commitment to addressing the safety issues in Bedford.

Bedford, a town with a population of around 185,800, has seen McCormack become a vocal advocate for community safety. In addition to his business ventures, he runs Real Bedford FC, a football club backed by investments from Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss. McCormack has engaged local residents by surveying them about crime and has called for community meetings to build support for his security project.

Despite the initiative’s ambition, legal questions remain around how these private security personnel will operate in public spaces. Vigilantism is illegal in the UK, and experts from JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors caution that such efforts must stay within legal boundaries. It is suggested that the guards may function more as informants, gathering video evidence to assist police investigations, similar to the growing trend of traffic vigilantes in the country.

While the concept of privately funded security patrols might seem unconventional, it reflects a broader trend in areas facing police shortages. Lieutenant Eric J. Altorfer of the San Francisco Police Department noted earlier this year that private security increasingly fills gaps left by understaffed law enforcement agencies. However, Altorfer emphasized the importance of clear collaboration between private security firms and public police to ensure accountability and effectiveness.